Trump Officials Celebrated Aid Cuts, Then Cholera Deaths Followed
Following Trump’s inauguration, officials celebrated budget cuts at USAID, including those impacting humanitarian aid. These cuts, driven by a disdain for the agency and implemented by inexperienced appointees, resulted in the termination of critical programs, particularly in South Sudan. Consequently, essential aid was halted during a severe cholera outbreak, causing death due to lack of medical care and sanitation services. Despite internal warnings and pleas for renewed funding, the Trump administration delayed aid for months, prioritizing its agenda and ultimately downplaying the consequences.
John Q. Hosedrinker